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Terminology management

Our services at a glance

Terminology management is often used as a synonym to terminology work, which comprises the preparation, validation, standardization, and maintenance of terminological information and terms in one or more languages.

However, terminology management is a much broader concept. It encompasses in particular all tasks related to defining terminology database structures and administering terminology management systems, designing terminology-related processes, describing the roles of all persons involved in such processes, as well as establishing key figures.

Needs analysis

Definition of Termbase Structures

Evaluation of Terminology Management Tools

Terminology Style Guides

Terminology Processes

Cost-benefit Analysis / ROI Calculation

Terminology Extraction

Master Data Optimization

Training / Coaching

Key Figures

Terminology as a service

Temporary Project Management

Needs analysis

Would you like to introduce terminology work into your company? But are you lacking convincing arguments to present to your supervisors or company management? Together with you we will develop the best possible strategy for a course of action, based on the circumstances of your company.

You’ll receive a needs analysis including a detailed catalogue of measures and if required also a roadmap from us, a convincing instrument to support your argumentation, which also considers costs and benefits.

Definition of Termbase Structures

We will support you in designing and configuring your terminology database, tailored to your terminology, your processes and your company. We will define the necessary data categories, determining together with you how they should be positioned and which data categories should be defined as mandatory fields.

Especially if you may want to make use of workflow-controlled terminology work, correct positioning of the necessary fields is a decisive factor for ensuring efficient work. Thanks to our experience, you can avoid costly wrong decisions here.

Evaluation of Terminology Management Tools

Suppose you would like to introduce terminology work and at the same time also implement a terminology management system. But which of the tools on the market will cover your needs for necessary functions?

We will conduct a needs analysis for you and evaluate possible software tools. As the final result we will provide you with a detailed analysis to serve as the basis for making a decision. If necessary we will also support you in a trial run in your company.

If you are also interested in a tool for extracting terminology from existing text inventories, we can also present some suitable tools for this purpose to you.

For selected terminology tools, we will provide specialist support for you based on best practise, answer your questions on request, point out solutions or perform special tasks for you.

Terminology Style Guides

Before you begin standardizing terminology in your company, it is useful to first compile a set of rules defining the most important principles for forming names in your company-specific terminology, starting first with the source language. We normally prepare German terminology style guides and if necessary English as well. Some rules can also be added for other foreign languages if necessary.

Rules with validation criteria and rules for designing definitions and explanations about individual data categories in your terminology database round out the content of your terminology style guide. It guarantees consistent quality and uniformity in your terminology inventories.

Perhaps you’re not sure how and where you should get started. We would be happy to provide support for you in compiling the contents of your terminology style guide.

Based on a representative selection of names derived from terminology extraction, we coordinate with you and your specialist departments to determine the first rules and record them.

Terminology Processes

Would you like to establish terminology work as a process in your company, analyse your existing process and improve it or just introduce new sub-processes?

We will be happy to support you in this area. We will closely and critically examine the existing work steps and interfaces, developing the appropriate processes or sub-processes together with you and the relevant managers and departments.

Cost-benefit Analysis / ROI Calculation

Do you have to work up a business case for a terminology project, but you don’t have any relevant convincing figures? We will develop a representative questionnaire to conduct a survey with the relevant employees in your company. We can also conduct the survey for you if requested.

Based on this survey and the data derived from it, we will fill in a table that can then be used for a cost-benefit analysis or to calculate ROI.

Terminology Extraction

Terminology extraction is a means of obtaining terminology inventories, especially initial inventories. The process involves extracting “term candidates” from a representative text corpus with a special software tool so they are available for further terminological processing.

We provide you with the extracted data in one or two languages in the form of an Excel list, which you can then further process.

Master Data Optimization

There is enormous potential for use of terminology in many companies, especially regarding the master data in their ERP or PDM system, for example in the form of material short texts. By providing uniform and terminologically coordinated naming catalogues in the language of your plant or development, you ensure that all developers will be “speaking the same language” and that new parts that are developed or parts that are revised will be named uniformly. This significantly increases the reusability of your components, cuts unnecessary development and storage costs and leads to savings in purchasing by reducing duplicate orders.

With coordinated naming concepts you will improve the quality of your material texts. You will also be able to use them for external publications, for example a spare parts catalogue, with very little extra work. Making your part names uniform will also reduce incorrect orders from your customers.

You will also be able to create technical documentation faster because the technical editors will not have to spend as much time defining part names. They can simply assume that the names have already been coordinated in the preceding development process. Take advantage of our many years of experience and expertise in this specialised area and optimise your terminology from the very beginning as you develop new products.

Training / Coaching

Do you lack the resources internally to make employees familiar with new terminology processes? Or perhaps you are expanding your terminology processes and now you would like to sensitize and train the relevant target groups. You have already found motivated employees who will be performing terminology tasks in the future, but they have little or no theoretical and practical experience in this area. So you are looking for someone who can deepen the specialized skills of these employees and coach them in their daily work to help them establish more routine.

In addition to training sessions and workshops which we conduct as part of our teaching activities or for organizations, we also offer customized training sessions and workshops for companies. We cover a wide range of topics in this area ranging from the basics of terminology work to the principles of forming names and instruction in processes and tools.

Key Figures

To see whether a process is really efficient, you have to measure it and be able to compare it. The success of a project and whether it has achieved its goals can also be demonstrated by the right key figures.

We will be pleased to support you and your company in developing a concept for suitable key figures and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) in the area of terminology management.

Terminology as a service

Do you lack the resources to carry out terminology work? We will be happy to perform the following terminology tasks for you as fee-based services:

Terminology work in one or more languages

Prescriptive (normative) terminology work

Systematic terminology work in a special field or for a specific product; also ad hoc terminology work for specific items

We cover this service area together with a competent and experienced team of freelance translators and terminology specialists. We are therefore able to offer a wide range of different languages, areas of expertise and competences.

Temporary Project Management

As project managers, we also conduct complete terminology projects on request and control the entire project on your behalf. You have everything from a single source: from planning to execution with project controlling and through to project completion.